A beam homogenizer is a device that smooths out the irregularities in a

laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fir ...

beam profile and creates a more uniform one. Most beam homogenizers use a multifaceted

mirror A mirror or looking glass is an object that Reflection (physics), reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mirror will show an image of whatever is in front of it, when focused through the lens of the eye or a camera. Mirrors reverse the ...

with square facets. The mirror reflects light at different angles to create a beam with uniform power across the whole beam profile (a "top hat" profile). Some applications of beam homogenizers include their use with

excimer laser An excimer laser, sometimes more correctly called an exciplex laser, is a form of ultraviolet laser which is commonly used in the production of microelectronic devices, semiconductor based integrated circuits or "chips", eye surgery, and microm ...

s for making computer processing chips and with CO₂ lasers for

heat treating Heat treating (or heat treatment) is a group of industrial, thermal and metalworking processes used to alter the physical, and sometimes chemical, properties of a material. The most common application is metallurgical. Heat treatments are also ...

. Most laser beam outputs usually have Gaussian energy distribution. Using beam homogenizer will create an evenly distributed energy of the beam instead of the Gaussian shape. Unlike beam shaper who create a certain shape to the beam, beam homogenizer spread the central concentrated energy among the beam diameter so the results are sometimes grainy. An example for simple beam homogenizer can be just a murky glass, after it, the beam will be more homogenized. However, this is a very simple solution with low efficiency causing a blurry beam. For most applications/uses, advanced methods of beam homogenizing are required such as diffractive beam homogenizer or using MLA (Micro Lens Array). $Intensity profile after use of diffractive homogenizer with coherent beam$

External links

Lens Array Vs Rod Lens For Laser Beam Homogenization
Optical devices Laser science {{Optics-stub